May 31, 2007

I really can't convey the frustration with composing a post that I really enjoyed, then hitting the SAVE button which will publish that post, and finding out that it not only did't publish the post. But didn't save it as well.

May 28, 2007

When I was very young I vividly remember a television show called The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. I don't know if I saw these shows in rerun, or first run, I just remember how much I enjoyed it.

The series was based on the classic movie of the same name, and starred Edward Mulhare, Hope Lange and the wonderfully funny Charles Nelson Reilly. And there was something about Reilly that just made me, and my mom, love him, even though he was, technically, the bad guy on the show. From what I can remember anyway.

In later years, I remember rushing home from school to catch Match Game. Granted most of the jokes I'm sure went right over my head, but I couldn't get enough of the show. The almost always innuendo laden questions which ended in "blank" were hilarious enough. But watching the panelists, most notably Charles Nelson Reilly and Brett Somers was like watching two of the wittiest family members attack one another during Thanksgiving. Only Thanksgiving was never this fun.

While seated next to one another, Somers and Reilly would chide, bite and generally annoy each other. But always for fun, and I couldn't help feeling that it was okay for them to go at one another, but heaven help anyone else who tried, because I'm sure the other would come to their defense. And let's face it, no one would ever want to go toe to toe with either Brett Somers or Charles Nelson Reilly so quick was their wit.

I'm not sure how long that show lasted, but I do remember, even at kind of a young age, realizing that Reilly was ... well, different. I don't know that gay ever really entered my mind, but I do know that I thought of Charles Nelson Reilly as ... well, Charles Nelson Reilly. He was his own man, and a funny one at that. And he was smart, funny, obviously talented and well, just would have been a cool guy to know.

I wasn't aware of seeing much of Reilly in front of the camera after Match Game went off the air, but his name did appear on screen from time to time as a director. Though I do remember my friend Shelley, a huge fan of The X-Files, calling me up to say Charles Nelson Reilly would be on an episode.

How funny to think that she was a big fan of his too as I don't know that we ever really discussed him before. Shelley had a quick wit, so I guess it really shouldn't surprise me that she recognized the genius that was Charles Nelson Reilly. And while I don't remember a whole bunch about that episode, I do remember how funny I thought it was that his character name was Jose Chung. My memories of him might be from television, but he had a wonderfully successful career on Broadway.

What I didn't learn until sometime later was that Reilly was honored with a number of awards for his talent. He was nominated for at least 3 Emmy's, won a Tony Award and taught the craft to any number of very successful actors. And really, it shouldn't surprise me. I mean, there was a genius about him that was very evident.

In reflecting on all this, I can't help but think how silly it was, that a youngster like me thought I knew all about him because of his television appearances. It's almost like trying to experience the taste of Ice Cream by reading label.

For a very nice, heartfelt write up of Reilly, check out Danny's blog over at Jew Eat Yet. Besides being one of the finest writers out there, Danny Miller has such an amazing connection to ... well everything and everyone that it's a must read on any day. But especially today.

I really am very sad to hear this news. But thankful that Match Game still airs on the Game Show Network. Because, honestly, even today, his humor stands the test of time. I only wish I had the chance to meet him in person. I think we would have gotten along famously.

May 25, 2007

To any true Star Wars fan this is a very special date. Of course it's the day (a Wednesday for those keeping track) when Star Wars first screened on a surprisingly small number of screens nationwide.

The very first poster I saw for this movie is the one below, and I still vividly remember this commercial. Even though the music was temp music not from the movie and even the Star Wars logo is .. well, just text.

I waited in line with my friend at 7:15pm for what we thought was the 8:00pm showing. We didn't know until 8:00pm that we were waiting for the 10:30pm showing. Phone calls would have to be made.

At the time a child's ticket was $1.65, and an adult was a whopping $3.50.

It was because of this movie that I met my dear friend Shelley, though it would be some weeks before we would officially meet at a (yep I'm a certified geek) Science Fiction Convention. So while I didn't see Star Wars until May 27th of 1977, and didn't meet Shelley until a little while later. It's appropriate that my weekend, some 30 years later, will include a trip to a place I've never been, but a place I suspect will be familiar still.

So to all the Star Wars fans out there, and even to those who aren't. Remember this:

May 23, 2007

I don't know who they are. I don't know about what it is they're singing. I just know I'm transfixed.

I've said before that I'm so amazed by people who can sing. What a great way to express yourself. Granted, they could be singing about world domination, or something horrible. But it's such a catchy tune I don't think I would care either way.

So here's the live version, and below it, what I understand is the "official" music video. Listen, and just try to have a bad day.

May 21, 2007

Last time we talked a little bit about Chuck, the new NBC series that will hit the fall schedule.

Next comes another NBC show, but this one has a decidedly darker look. The Bionic Woman is a newer updated version of ... The Bionic Woman that ran in the 70's. The difference is, well I'mnot sure.

I have to admit that I don't remember a whole bunch about the original series, except that I liked it and I had a mini crush on Lindsey Wagner. She was, to me, the perfect woman, even without her bionic improvements. She always seemed like she was just a little above all the hoopla she was asked to do, but enjoyed doing it anyway. She was the kind of woman who would take everything in stride. And as Jamie Sommers, her bionic counterpart, she did exactly that every week.

NBC has made available a trailer for the new series, and it seems, for the most part, to be pretty straightforward. I have a feeling the network realizes that simply slapping a name from a cherished old show isn't enough to keep fans, both old and new, turning in every week.

Case in point; The Night Stalker. For anyone who even remotely remembers that fun bit of cheese from the 1970's, the newer version (about a year or so ago) from ABC was enough to turn our stomachs, as well as our channels.

The original starred the late, but always great Darrin McGavin as an independent news reporter who constantly stumbled upon murders and mysteries better left to the after world. The new series, well, it wasn't very good, and it's only homage to the old series was to digitally insert McGavin into it's premier episode.

The sad thought about the Stalker series, is it would be perfect for resurrection, if done right. Of course, we'll probably have to wait another 20 years until that happens.

But now at least we have Jamie Sommers back. Granted, she's not Lindsey Wagner, but The Bionic Woman already has a few things going for it that excite me. The first, and for me best, is that Molly Price is back on series TV.

A series regular on the highly acclaimed, but little watched Third Watch, Price is a joy to watch in whatever she does. I hope she's in the show for more than just window dressing.

Mark Sheppard is another cool addition. For those of us who watch Medium, Sheppard played the arch nemeses Charles Walker to Partricia Arquette's Allison Duboise.

And rounding out the cast is Katie Sackoff (for the pilot anyway) from Battlestar Galactica, and Miguel Ferrer of Crossing Jordan and about every other movie that has had a cool villain.

So here's a peak at the new show. Hopefully it will stay true to form and we'll all be looking for even more worthy resurrections from the vault of 70's TV next Season.

May 16, 2007

The title today was an homage to the old sign off given by Jimmy Durante on his weekly television show so many years ago. Each week he would say "Goodnight Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are." For some reason it seemed appropriate today. But I have to admit it wasn't until I thought more about it that the title may say more about my thoughts, than I was probably aware.

I had written a fairly long post about Mr. Falwell. But in rereading it, decided not to post it. In the end, someone is dead, and maybe because I was reading another very well written blog about the passing of someone's mother, it got me to thinking, that whatever it is he did, and he did a lot, he was someone's father, and someone's son. And he had a family.

Of course I don't mean to say that any of that should excuse the pain he brought to many people. But I think it is safe to say, that it isn't for me to jump on his grave and gnash my teeth about him. There are others who can put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard much better than I.

May 15, 2007

I'm not sure how this title came about, but it was big with my high school class for all of about a month. And to this day, when someone talks about dancing, I can't help but thinking of us all going on with that phrase.

Yeah, probably making you scratch your head right now, as I'm sure it did to numerous people around us during high school, but it is something I think will be with me 'till the day I die. Scary as that may be.

Anyway, I caught a show last night, okay, part of a show, that had me scratching my own head. First of all, I'm not big on reality shows, I'm just not. I think I watched most of season one of Survivor, but when people had to start eating weird things, well, they lost me. And while there are a couple of fun reality shows on television now, working on one, kind of cured me of ever having to watch another.

But watch one, or part of one, I did last night, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Okay, maybe "enjoy" is giving the impression that I sat transfixed the entire run. That didn't happen. Actually I think I really only caught about 5 to 10 minutes of it. But wow, what a great 5 to 10 minutes.

Joey Fatone, one of the members of 'N Sync was on Dancing With The Stars, as one of the "stars" last night and, uh, wow, could he dance.

Here was this guy, who isn't husky by any means, but is a little thick. Hey, I like thick so this isn't a slam. But I don't know that I would ever expect him, or more accurately, someone with his build, to dance the way he danced.

To the tune of a jitterbug type melody, Fatone jumped, jived, danced, did the splits, and just about everything else you would expect of a gymnast, and all without misstep. He glided effortlessly with his partner as if she were nothing more hearty than a dainty Lilly. I mean this guy can move.

My jaw was literally open when I saw him jump off the judges table (which I guess some of the dancers do from time to time) and move to rock steady beat as if it were is only calling in life.

Wearing a snappy yellow jacket (which he took off in mid step) and yellow suspenders, about the only thing that was disappointing was his use of black pants and black shoes. His dance moves were so intricate that they would have been better displayed had his pants, or better yet, his feet been clad in the same bumble bee yellow.

And talking about shoes. The boy has got a pair of feet on him. I'm not just talking dancing feet, I'm talking like really big, large, biggy big feet. Maybe that's why the black shoes. But big feet shouldn't be a negative, even in dancing, and I give him more kudos for being able to hop around with those puppy's, and always making it look as though he were lighter than air.

Because it was a reality show, I didn't stay after the commercial break to see how they scored. But if Joey Fatone is on the show again, it's enough to make me return. I enjoyed it that much.

And I have to imagine that a big part of the success of the show is the vicarious living we can do through those on stage. But I do have to say if I ever attempted a jump, a split or any of the maneuvers of Mr. Fatone, I'm sure I would break a hoof, and to the glue factory I would go.

I'm not saying you should all watch Dancing With The Stars, but if that segment is any indicator of what the show is like, you could spend your time in worse ways.

May 14, 2007

It should come as no surprise that NBC has canceled Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip. The brainchild of Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme about the goings on behind the scenes at a weekly variety show never really caught on with audiences.

Sadly, the show had some spectacular episodes. But truthfully, those episodes were few and far between. While one might think the behind the scenes antics would be perfect fodder for a weekly show, the focus on the personal lives of the entertainers and creators was, I feel, the biggest obstacle for audiences to grasp on the the one hour drama.

Another show which had, as its foundation, the same premise has been renewed. 30 Rock, from creator Tina Fey was picked up for next season even though audiences haven't been clamoring to boost the ratings for that show either.

Though I would say of the two, 30 Rock is more enjoyable (it is a comedy after all) and fresh. My hopes for Studio 60 were great, though I admit the first episode left me wanting more. The creative team behind the show is nothing short of genius, but the execution just didn't sit well with me, or audiences, and the show seemed to try too hard to find topics that were worthy of critical attention.

We'll never know for sure, but I have a feeling if the stories centered more around the show, and less about the personal lives of the participants, audiences might have been more drawn in. Like The West Wing before it, Sorkin and Schlamme (and later John Wells) managed to create an atmosphere that was high in energy (not unlike producing a live weekly show) filled with potential disasters (not unlike producing a live weekly show) and ultimately gratifying. I still believe had producers allowed the show within a show to be the main focus, audiences would have stayed with it. Getting to know, and like, the characters would come in time, but, unfortunately the show went in a different direction.

"You're only as good as your last success," is an old Hollywood saying, which we all know isn't always true. And I certainly hope that isn't the case here. Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme are two of the most talented people in television today, and I eagerly await their next project, whatever that will be.